Drama 'Queen Mantis' Concludes with Record Ratings and Global Acclaim

Actress Ko Hyun-jung's return to SBS after seven years with the drama 'Queen Mantis' has concluded with record-breaking ratings.

According to Nielsen Korea on September 28, the final episode of SBS's Friday-Saturday drama 'Queen Mantis' (directed by Byun Young-joo, written by Lee Young-jong, planned by Studio S, produced by Merry Christmas, Mega Monster, and Film Production Boim) aired on September 27, achieving its highest ratings with 7.9% in the Seoul metropolitan area and 7.4% nationwide. The peak rating soared to an impressive 10.3%. The drama also demonstrated its popularity with a 2049 viewership rating, a key indicator of channel competitiveness, averaging 2.5% and peaking at 3.52%. Throughout its run, it consistently ranked high on the OTT platform Netflix, even reaching 6th place globally (non-English category), showcasing its international appeal.

In the final episode, the copycat killer of 'Mantis' was killed, and the serial killer mother, Jung Yi-shin (played by Ko Hyun-jung), found happiness in seeing her son, Cha Soo-yeol (played by Jang Dong-yoon), grow into an empathetic adult. However, the murder of Choi Jung-ho (played by Jo Sung-ha), who was the link between the mother and son, brought them face to face again, hinting at the beginning of a new collaborative investigation between the serial killer mother and detective son.

Jung Yi-shin walked into danger to save her daughter-in-law, Lee Jung-yeon (played by Kim Bo-ra), after the perpetrator, Seo Ah-ra (played by Han Dong-hee), demanded an exchange of hostages. Jung Yi-shin urged the terrified Lee Jung-yeon to run for her life and protect the precious life inside her.

Seo Ah-ra, who took Jung Yi-shin to her hideout, displayed an obsession by kissing her. Seo Ah-ra was a murderer who needed the excuse of 'Mantis' to kill. Her murderous instincts were fueled by the abuse she suffered from her father as a child. Cha Soo-yeol found the hideout shortly after, but Jung Yi-shin had disappeared. Cha Soo-yeol and Kim Na-hee (played by Lee El) shot Seo Ah-ra, and Cha Soo-yeol vowed to find Jung Yi-shin.

During his search, Cha Soo-yeol discovered a hypnosis video of Jung Yi-shin, revealing her secret. Jung Yi-shin had been abused by her father, Jung Hyun-nam (played by Lee Hwang-ui), who also strangled her mother to death in front of her and set their house on fire. Jung Yi-shin was a deeply wounded victim.

Jung Yi-shin reappeared at Jung Hyun-nam's church. Jung Hyun-nam claimed he was forgiven by God, spewing nonsense. As Jung Yi-shin attempted to kill him in anger, Cha Soo-yeol arrived and stopped her. As they turned to leave, a young girl, Kim Eun-ae (played by Han Si-a), appeared with red lipstick on her lips, reminiscent of Jung Yi-shin's childhood. Jung Hyun-nam had been committing vile acts against Kim Eun-ae as well.

Enraged, Cha Soo-yeol aimed a gun at Jung Hyun-nam, but Jung Yi-shin injected him with a sedative, saying, "Don't become like me!" Left alone with Jung Hyun-nam, Jung Yi-shin intended to kill him and herself. Cha Soo-yeol, who regained consciousness, saved Jung Yi-shin, pleading, "Mom! Please wake up!" He finally expressed his feelings towards her, and Jung Yi-shin, opening her eyes, could only cry and scream in silence.

Jung Yi-shin told Cha Soo-yeol, "Blood ties mean nothing. You're different from me, and I like that." She thanked Choi Jung-ho for raising Cha Soo-yeol with empathy. Despite being a victim of her father's abuse and becoming a murderer, Jung Yi-shin wished for her son to live a different life. She was, after all, a mother. It was a heart-wrenching story.

However, 'Queen Mantis' did not end there. The camera showed Jung Yi-shin in prison, watching news of Choi Jung-ho's mysterious murder two years later. Cha Soo-yeol and Kim Na-hee visited her, hinting at the resumption of the collaborative investigation between the serial killer mother and detective son. It was a shocking conclusion that truly embodied the phrase "it's not over until it's over."

'Queen Mantis' captivated audiences with its unprecedented storyline of a serial killer mother and detective son's collaborative investigation, delivered through a meticulous plot and unpredictable developments. Ko Hyun-jung's transformation into a serial killer showcased her legendary acting prowess, while Jang Dong-yoon's passionate performance added depth to the story. Director Byun Young-joo's skillful direction heightened the immersion, drawing viewers to their screens. Alongside Ko Hyun-jung, Jang Dong-yoon, Jo Sung-ha, and Lee El, all the actors fully immersed themselves in their characters, seamlessly fitting into the narrative's intricate gears.